Rnz: Music 101

In this week's Pocket Edition, Jana Whitta gets in the Fanau Spa with Big Fat Raro and Brown Boy Magic; Kirsten Johnstone speaks with producers Sylvia Massy, Gil Norton and Clint Murphy about their work on some of our most beloved albums of the last two decades; and Yadana Saw pays a visit to Wellington's newest supergroup, Congress of Animals.

Wellington hip-hop pioneers Upper Hutt Posse have just been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Members Darryl Thomson aka, DLT and Bennett Pomana, aka MC B-Ware, joined us to reminisce and select songs for the RNZ Music Mixtape.

Fanau Spa is a 9-piece collective of musicians, rappers, artists and performers based in Tāmaki Makaurau, with members hailing from all around the globe. Members Toki and Nikolai spoke to RNZ's Jana Whitta.

When The Phoenix Foundation's Luke Buda decided to write a protest song to bring attention to the “horrific” situation of children detained in Nauru, he was initially intimidated by the subject matter.So Buda reached out to Don McGlashan for heavy hitting songwriting help and together they wrote 'Children Don’t Belong in Jail'.

Sylvia Massy has worked with Prince, Tool, and Johnny Cash; Gil Norton has produced for The Pixies, Foo Fighters and Manic Street Preachers; and Clint Murphy has had his fingers on the faders for dozens of NZ albums since the beginning of the century. Kirsten Johnstone gets them around a table to talk about their craft.

RNZ Music's Alex Behan was backstage at last night's Vodafone NZ Music Awards, capturing the winner's reactions. He chatted to Troy Kingi, Alien Weaponry, Six60, SWIDT, Brooke Fraser, Sons of Zion and Che Fu, who spoke about Upper Hutt Posse's induction into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.

Henry and Pierre Beasley of Balu Brigada have made New York rather than Auckland's North Shore their home for the last few months busily writing new songs and they swing by RNZ to share one 'Old Love'.

Shannen from Palmerston North band Fruit Juice Parade introduces their song Legislation.

Marlon Williams' self-directed vampire music video wins at this years' NZ Music Artisan Awards. Virtuoso Strings' founder and music teacher, Elizabeth Sneyd is the inaugural winner of Music Teacher of Year Tui . The evening was hosted by Wellington Paranormal's Officers O'Leary and Minogue.

Shine Your Light is the literal translation of Kia Kaaterama Pou’s name. It’s also the title of her debut EP, which is out today to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Rātana movement.

On this week's Pocket Edition we visit the NZVMA Artisan Awards, and host proto-jazz outfit Yoko Zuna for a live session.

"The Loneliest Girl continues Princess Chelsea’s examination of storybook love and, ever so sweetly, defaces each page" said Nick Bollinger of Chelsea Nikkel's latest album. She talks through some of her greatest influences with Kirsten Johnstone for The Mixtape. 

Julien Dyne knows how to make the people dance, as Nick Bollinger discovers.

In this week's Pocket Edition, we celebrate thirty years of OMAC - the Otara Music and Arts Centre that has been South Auckland's incubator of creative talent. Tony Stamp speaks with Dunedin trip pop, alt weirdos Jagger and Lines and Yadana Saw takes a tour of Orchestra of Sphere's headquarters.

Hello Sailor's Harry Lyon joins Trevor Reekie for an hour of chat and some of his favourite tunes.

With their colourful costumes and trance inducing sounds, Orchestra Of Spheres have built a loyal audience both here and overseas. They show us around their Wellington base The Pyramid Club.

Dunedin alt-pop duo Jaggers x Lines have released their debut album Burn Cycle, which mixes trip hop sounds with serious lyrical topics. Tony Stamp had a coffee with beatmaker Morgan and singer Eliana last time they visited Auckland.

OMC, Ardijah, King Kapisi and Annie Crummer are just a few of the names that have come through OMAC - the Ōtara Music Arts Centre, which is celebrating 30 years of fostering musical talent in South Auckland. We take a look back at the centre’s history.

Slow jams and politics coexist on Neneh Cherry's new album. Nick Bollinger listens.

Tali makes a welcome return to the world of drum and bass with her new album Love and Migration.